in other news, a perusal of today's Evening Standard states that United and Palace are discussing a deal AS WE SPEAK for Zaha. £12m deal, with the potential Nani-replacement going back on loan to help with Palace's promotion push. it does make sense, although I would be disappointed to lose Nani.

If Lampard is going to leave then someone would have to come in and replace him. Fellaini could be that person since he is more in Frank's style so he would compliment Mata & Hazard & Oscar who are the creative ones.

He shouldn't leave until the summer though, since that is when Lampard will leave Chelsea.

he's useful going forward but i assumed he's a better fit further back playing more defensively, using his size to boss the midfield. certainly that's what United would use from him, because there's enough going on up front.

but we won't compete with Chelsea. plus they have Hazard so have the Belgium connection.

The only thing against Fellaini (than temperament) is that this Everton side is basically setup to cater to his mood. If he's of a mind to play deeper, then he does. Likewise if he's of a mind to go forward, then that's what he does. In both sets of circumstances Everton are setup to accommodate it. Because he's our best player. If he finds himself at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge he's not going to get that freedom. He'll have to accommodate others of greater talent and experience. Might not stand out so much, then. Or be as effective.

Indeed, I've seen Berbatov at times get frustrated with his fellow Fulham players because he's made a good run or got into a decent position and they either don't notice or fail to deliver him the right kind of ball. He is a player of class and a level above most of his team-mates, but if he wants better service he should have gone elsewhere.

I'm not sure I follow your comparison. Berbatov is a league about his Fulham teammates. Fellaini is Everton's best player, yes, but he's not so far above that he becomes frustrated by the limitations of others. He fits Everton like a glove. We're setup to play to his strengths. Move to United or Chelsea and he wouldn't have that luxury.

Both guys would dislike being in a team where they are not the focus, Fellaini is in one right now where he is the man and the team is built around him whereas Berbatov is not but wants to be.

While Berbatov went from a big team (where he was surplus to requirements) to a team not able to get the best out of him, Fellaini is in a team that suits him but may move to a team that is either too good or too much at his level that he won't stand out or be the focus anymore.